Brimbank council troika complete

MELISSA CUNNINGHAM

FORMER Brimbank commissioner Jane Nathan will return to the council after being appointed as the third administrator.

She will join Peter Lewinsky and chairman John Watson.

Ms Nathan led Brimbank from 1994-97 following the amalgamation of Keilor and Sunshine. She is also a former Hawthorn mayor.

Ms Nathan told the Weekly she was thrilled to be back.

"When I left Brimbank 15 years ago, it was an area on the cusp of enormous growth," she said.

"There has been so much change in the time I've been gone and I hope to continue to advance Brimbank, improve infrastructure and connect the area with communities around us."

Ms Nathan, Mr Lewinsky and Mr Watson will lead the council until March 2015.

Ms Nathan's agenda for the next four years includes enhancing Brimbank's bike paths to encourage more residents to ride instead of drive.

"Cycling has the power to improve people's health and the environment," she said.

Ms Nathan is president of the Australian Population Institute and a member of the federal government's 'Black Spot' committeeand the Municipality Association of Victoria's councillor conduct panel. She's also a governor at St Vincent's Hospital.

She said she was a successful administrator with the ability engage the community.

"I will get things done during my term," she said.

"I'm very confident we have an effective team of different skills and backgrounds, which is critically important."

Announcing the appointment, Local Government Minister Jeanette Powell said Ms Nathan had strong qualifications in community engagement.

Brimbank's councillors were sacked in 2009 following a damning report by Ombudsman George Brouwer into the strife-torn council.

Administrators Peter Lewinsky, Meredith Sussex and Joanne Anderson were brought in to oversee the operation of the council until the 2012 election.

As reported by the Weekly, the state government cancelled elections scheduled for this year, with a report finding political tensions in the area were too great to risk a return to elected councillors.